frustrated_3
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NJ
I have written before about the feeling that I'm writing much of this first contract on my own. I am fairly uncomfortable about deciding pay or pay scales for all current and future employees by myself!
My question is, am I in the wrong asking the union rep or union lawyer for advice on what to include? Not so much the "what" but the specifics of it. For example, we are asking for longevity payments in the contract, mostly because the municipal unit that we basically now work for, receives it. I sent the rep and lawyer three examples that I would be happy with an asked for their opinion on which would be best received. The answer I got back was simply "pick one." And then, "If they say no, so be it." Doesn't sound to me like they feel like negotiating for it. If this is the case, I wish they would say but I'm confused about the lack of answers I get.
I did the same with sick leave buy back, sent a few examples I had seen from other similar contracts and got a "pick one" again.
I sent pay rates and asked if they looked ok and got the same response. I then just asked how they would suggest I come up with the pay rates, just to see if I was on the right path. I really don't want to hurt any of my coworkers in this process. We do not have set pay rates, raises or scales for positions. It's more based on what they wanted to offer at the time you were hired.
Am I wrong in asking for help?
Sadly, when face to face, the rep is very accommodating and agreeable, so I leave feeling hopeful. Once discussions continue by phone and email they get short, snippy and refuse to answer questions and often don't reply. It's like dealing with jekyl and hyde.
I have written before about the feeling that I'm writing much of this first contract on my own. I am fairly uncomfortable about deciding pay or pay scales for all current and future employees by myself!
My question is, am I in the wrong asking the union rep or union lawyer for advice on what to include? Not so much the "what" but the specifics of it. For example, we are asking for longevity payments in the contract, mostly because the municipal unit that we basically now work for, receives it. I sent the rep and lawyer three examples that I would be happy with an asked for their opinion on which would be best received. The answer I got back was simply "pick one." And then, "If they say no, so be it." Doesn't sound to me like they feel like negotiating for it. If this is the case, I wish they would say but I'm confused about the lack of answers I get.
I did the same with sick leave buy back, sent a few examples I had seen from other similar contracts and got a "pick one" again.
I sent pay rates and asked if they looked ok and got the same response. I then just asked how they would suggest I come up with the pay rates, just to see if I was on the right path. I really don't want to hurt any of my coworkers in this process. We do not have set pay rates, raises or scales for positions. It's more based on what they wanted to offer at the time you were hired.
Am I wrong in asking for help?
Sadly, when face to face, the rep is very accommodating and agreeable, so I leave feeling hopeful. Once discussions continue by phone and email they get short, snippy and refuse to answer questions and often don't reply. It's like dealing with jekyl and hyde.